900 North Michigan Building vs One Vanderbilt

Comparing the 900 North Michigan Building and the One Vanderbilt is compelling because they were both designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, yet they stand in different cities (Chicago, IL and New York, NY), and were completed over two decades apart.

What this will allow us to see, is how the same firm's approach adapted to different places in different periods of time.

The One Vanderbilt is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 1401ft (427m) with 67 floors above ground, while the 900 North Michigan Building reaches 871ft (265.5m) with 66 floors above ground.

Of course, each project may have faced different briefs or regulatory constraints, which we don't really know about and could also explain the outcome.

The 900 North Michigan Building was designed in the Postmodernism style, while the One Vanderbilt reflects the principles of Contemporary.

At the time of their completion, both styles were well established. This makes the comparison especially interesting, because both buildings represent a dominant aesthetic at a particular point in time.

Built 31 years apart (1989 vs 2020), these two buildings are a perfect example of how different architectural styles have shaped the architectural landscape of our cities over time.

The 900 North Michigan Building follows a mixed-use model, combining retail, commercial, residential and hotel. In contrast, the One Vanderbilt has remained primarily commercial.

The 900 North Michigan Building incorporates a 5-star hotel with rooms. More information is available at the official website.

The 900 North Michigan Building offers 106 residential units.

The 900 North Michigan Building also provides 1330 parking spaces.

The two towers rely on different structural systems, reflecting distinct engineering strategies.

The 900 North Michigan Building uses a Frame structural system, which relies on a regular grid of columns and beams to sustain its weight, while the One Vanderbilt uses a Trussed Frame system, that uses diagonal bracing in addition to beams and columns for stability.

Yet, when it comes to their facade, they both employed the same solution, a Curtain Wall facade.

A curtain wall is a non-load-bearing facade hung from the structural frame. It is anchored to floor slabs and transfers only its own weight and wind loads, allowing for sleek, glassy exteriors.